CHP investigating crash; names of victims released

Sunday

Aug 15, 2010 at 12:01 AMAug 15, 2010 at 6:00 AM

BY KRIS REILLY Editor

JOHNSON VALLEY -- The California Highway Patrol is still investigating an off-road racing accident that killed eight people and injured 12 others on Saturday night at the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area about 20 miles east of Lucerne Valley.

A modified pickup truck competing in the California 200 barreled into the crowd at 7:51 p.m., authorities said. Witnesses said the vehicle had just cleared a jump called the "rockpile," which is a popular area for spectators to stand at the edge of the course. Brett M. Sloppy, 28, of San Marcos, was driving his modified 2000 Ford Ranger at roughly 45-50 miles per hour before losing control and hitting several spectators, according to a CHP press release. Sloppy survived the crash without serious injuries.

Six people were pronounced dead at the scene and two more died after being transported to trauma centers. The six dead at the scene included: Zachary Freeman, a 24-year-old man from Fillmore; Dustin C. Malson, a 24-year-old man from Ventura; Danica Frantzich, a 20-year-old woman from Las Vegas; Brian Wolfin, a 27-year-old man from Escondido; Andrew Therrin, a 22-year-old man from Riverside; and Anthony Sanchez, a 23-year-old man from Escondido.

Aaron Farkas, a 25-year-old Escondido man, was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 10 p.m. An eighth victim was pronounced dead at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, and that name has not been released.

The CHP release stated that five people suffered major injuries, while five more sustained minor injuries. Initial reports from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department stated that a total of 12 people were hurt.

Citing eyewitness accounts, The Associated Press reported that four people were crushed beneath the overturned truck, and at least one person was decapitated.

“I saw the truck come to rest and ran over to see if there was anything I could do,” spectator Kyle Herriman told The Leader. “All I saw were bodies and people lying everywhere.”

Off-duty firefighters and other emergency workers who happened be at the event assisted the injured until help arrived. Realizing there was little he could do to help the wounded, Herriman said he walked back up the course to help stop more racers from coming into the area.

Herriman said there were roughly 50 spectators in the area of the incident, and he believed most of them were young adults or teenagers.

The California 200 draws thousands of spectators annually. The race features a variety of vehicles, including dune buggies, sand rails and modified trucks competing on a course more than 50 miles long.

Chris McConnell was at Saturday’s race but chose not to watch at the "rockpile" because it was too crowded. He said spectators lined the edge of the course, with no barrier to protect them.

“Everybody goes there because they want to see the jump,” McConnell said.

Mojave Desert Racing organizes the event, and officials attempt to tell spectators to stay back. But the rules are rarely followed by the crowd, McConnell said.

“They tell you to stay 125 feet away,” McConnell said. “It’s hard for them to police it; it’s a 50-mile loop. They try to tell people to get back, but as soon as the cars come by people get closer. … (The race officials) don’t have any real power. They’re volunteers, they’re not cops. Some people might listen, some people might not.”

The OHV area is under federal jurisdiction; the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is assisting the CHP in its investigation of the incident. The CHP release said “alcohol was not a factor on the part of the driver and he was not arrested.”

An army of emergency vehicles arrived at the scene Saturday, including seven ambulances and nine fire engines. Ten helicopters were deployed, and at least seven of them were used to airlift the injured to trauma centers, San Bernardino County Fire Department officials said.

There was one ambulance on duty at the event, but the rest of the emergency vehicles took nearly a half hour to arrive because of the remote location. The access point for the racecourse is Bessemer Mine Road, which intersects with Old Woman Springs Road. The course is separated from the pavement by about five miles of rocky dirt road.

Kris Reilly may be reached at kreilly@vvdailypress.com or at (760) 985-8372.

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